Political Philosophy

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

This course will explore major questions in political philosophy: whether and when we should obey the law; whether and which states are justified in imposing law in the first place; if so, which laws does justice demand they impose? The plan is to make a survey of the main controversies of contemporary analytic political philosophy, with an eye to understanding what these debates tell us about how to live our lives today. Readings and discussions will address questions like: what justifies resistance to existing law, and must it be ‘civil’? Should we abolish coercive legal institutions like courts, police, and prisons? Is private ownership of capital consistent with social justice, or does equity require a revolutionary change to our economic system? We will endeavor to address the and other controversies with an open mind, deciding what to think if we don’t know already, and examining our justifications if we think we do.